The Wailing Wall is an ancient limestone wall in the Old City of Jerusalem. It is a relatively small segment of a far longer ancient retaining wall, known also in its entirety as the “Western Wall”. It is the most religious site in the world for the Jewish people. This ancient treasure is the tangible and symbolic backdrop for Friday night prayer. A unique energy was palpable for hours.

About one hour North West from Barcelona by train, Montserrat offers some of the most spectacular mountain views of Catalunya. You can take a funicular to the top of the mountain, and from there you can choose a number of different walks through some of the most unusual rock formations, all with amazing views of the Catalonian countryside.

You see these workers on the dhows every day loading everything from vegetables and fruit, clothes, vehicle spares, cars, to electrical equipment, into the boats. They toil in the sun or in pitch-black, cramped conditions below-deck. And then make their way up and down Dubai Creek, and once the boat is full, it’s off — loading and unloading in several countries around the Middle East before it reaches its destination in Iran, East Africa, Pakistan or India.

Unlike many of the other Angkor temples, Beng Mealea (said to be the “blue-print” for Angkor Wat) has not been fortified or rehabilitated. This means getting in and around this, nearly one thousand year old temple, is a hands on activity. Piles of stone rubble litter the courtyard and lie haphazardly throughout the site. Vegetation runs amok! Gorgeous mosses cover large swaths of stone, and tiny saplings popping up from minuscule cracks, have turned into full-grown trees winding their way around and through the ancient ruins.